Concord, NH – This fall, Dr. Todd J. Leach, President of Granite State College (GSC), was honored to announce the formation of its first privately endowed scholarship: the Presidential Opportunity Scholarship. This tremendous gift was created through the generosity of Andy Lietz and his family.

“As a family; my wife, my sons and myself; we were each beneficiaries of public education. It’s a shared experience that had an important role in each of our personal lives and gave us opportunities we wouldn’t have had otherwise,” said Andy Lietz, former Chairperson of the University System of New Hampshire Board of Trustees and the 2012 recipient of GSC’s Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters.

“There are many places you can support. My family was particularly interested in GSC because it provides a level of access that isn’t available in other parts of higher education. More than access, it’s an opportunity to get a truly quality education experience that will help the individual –most of whom are native to and plan to stay in New Hampshire– become more competitive in the workforce,” added Lietz.

The Lietz family chose to name the endowed fund the Presidential Opportunity Scholarship and that choice was purposeful. It is Lietz’ hope that this gesture will inspire others to participate in this scholarship, along with the support of his family, so students who have the academic potential, but lack the resources, can get their degrees

As one of four public institutions within the University System of New Hampshire, GSC services a statewide student population with affordable tuition, 100% online degree programs, four full-service campuses, and six additional academic sites throughout the state. For more information, please visit www.granite.edu.

About Granite State College
Granite State College is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2012, along with record enrollments college-wide. As part of the University System of New Hampshire, GSC empowers students to fulfill their dreams via innovative higher education degrees and programs. GSC serves over 3,500 students statewide and beyond annually, and has served over 54,000 New Hampshire students since 1972. GSC proudly delivers practical and relevant education in the classroom and online, offering associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees, post-baccalaureate programs for teacher education and a variety of transfer opportunities. GSC is committed to empowering and educating students, by delivering unparalleled, high-quality education in an affordable, flexible and innovative setting. Granite State College provides access at 10 locations across the state, including Manchester, Nashua, Concord, Portsmouth, Rochester, Claremont, Lebanon, Conway, Littleton and Berlin.